Punjab to encourage women to set up commercial dairy farms

Punjab government will set up small commercial dairy farms in state and focus on involving women in the business. Animal husbandry minister Kuldeep Dhaliwal on Monday held a review meet with officials of the department

Punjab animal husbandry and dairy development minister Kuldeep Dhaliwal on Monday held a review meeting with the officials of the dairy development department and directed them to carry out a special campaign to motivate women to set up small commercial dairy farms. (HT File Photo)

The Punjab government will set up a number of small commercial dairy farms in the state and focus on involving women in the business.

Animal husbandry and dairy development minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal on Monday held a review meeting with the officials of the dairy development department and directed them to carry out a special campaign to motivate women to set up small commercial dairy farms.

Dhaliwal said that in Punjab women in the family usually take care of livestock. Therefore, a special scheme will be launched by the animal husbandry and dairy development department to encourage women to set up small dairy farms, according to an official statement.

The minister said that the scheme will be implemented at the block level, under which 300 units would be set up in each block. He also directed the officials to implement this scheme by the end of June.

Under this scheme, the state government will provide financial aid to the women-run dairy farms for purchasing two to five animals. This will enable the women of the state to become self-reliant, he said.

Also, the state will provide assistance in livestock insurance and setting up of temporary sheds, the minister added.